Examines sex differences in vocalizations and play behaviors displayed toward an infant by preschoolers, preadolescents, and adults. Preschoolers showed less interaction than older subjects. Males talked and played less with the baby than did females at all ages; however, among adult subjects, no sex-role effects were found. (Author/RH)

Presents a restatement of the three basic constructs of "language ego,""language ego boundaries," and "permeability of language ego boundaries," discusses interdisciplinary "borrowing" of constructs, and examines the question of theory validation. (Author/AM)

Data on the durations of vowels preceding voiced and voiceless stops in three normal speakers and three esophageal speakers (who had had laryngectomies) suggested that the vowel length variations that were observed were language-specific, governed by phonological rules of English, and were not language universals. (Author/RL)

Presents two models of language acquisition: one postulating articulatory learning of underlying adult forms and the other both articulatory and perceptual learning. Reanalyzes the first model's data and concludes that two types of phonological rules are recognizable: perceptual-encoding rules and output (articulatory) rules. Identifies properties…

Reviews several studies from the ERIC system that deal with the relationship between listening and reading skills and suggests resources for teaching listening skills. (GT)

Interindividual and intragroup code-switching between the local and urban dialects is related to the degree of interplay among sociocultural factors of status, integrity and self-esteem present in the speech situation. In formal meetings, code-switching is governed by these factors with speakers manipulating the parameters of status while…

The validity of using phoneme monitoring techniques to measure syntactic processing in French was validated by two experiments. Significant differences in the reaction times of 80 French-speaking academic professionals to phonemes immediately following reversible subject relative clauses and those following object relative clauses demonstrate the…

An investigation of the confusion resulting from reliance on visual perceptual teachers in the identification of dactylemes (handshapes) in the American Manual Alphabet (MA) is reported. A hierarchy of errors varying with subjects' degree of expertness in the MA is established. This can help manual communication teachers develop techniques for…

The author describes two approaches to the development of talk in early childhood--behavioristic, which provides instruction in specific skills of grammar and vocabulary, and the approach which encourages the development of meaning rather than refining the structure of speech. (KC)

Reviews current research on three important language variables in search of a pattern. Discusses the nature of these variables, offers 26 generalizations supported by the studies, and derives implications from these generalizations. Areas for future research are suggested. (JMF)

Suggests that young children use their expectations of a context-specific, normal range of pause duration in timing the onset of a turn at speaking. (FL)

Describes two research programs on the syntactic abilities of hearing impaired and normal hearing individuals. The first program involved deaf students acquiring English structure; the second involved the construction of the Test of Syntactic Abilities and its application to deaf, hard of hearing, and normal hearing students in the United States,…

Investigates the sociolinguistic interaction between language behavior, religious affiliation, and degree of bilingualism in a group of Pennsylvania Germans. Also explores the nature of bilingualism and language contact phenomena in order to gain an understanding of ethnic subcultures and strategies to maintain their identity. (Author/MES)

Investigated the relationship between feelings of comfort and maturity of expression revealed by inner-city preschool Black children in three situations: with a familiar teacher, with the mother or principal caretaker in the home, and with a chosen peer. (DD)

Suggests a holistic approach to the language of Black people involving theory and research, policy and planning, and implementation and practice, the ultimate aim of which is knowledge for liberation. (DD)